NOAA/National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office Salt Lake City, UT

Weather Spotter Training 2019

Goals of the Training

• Definitions of important weather terminology and extreme weather criteria

• How to correctly identify significant weather features and events

• What information the spotter is to report and how to report it

• Ways to receive weather information before and during extreme weather events

• Spotter Safety

You will learn:

Near Grantsville, UT - September 4, 2007

About the National Weather Service (NWS)

Provides weather, hydrologic, and climate forecasts and

warnings for the protection of life and property and the

enhancement of the national economy

Salt Lake City Weather Forecast Office (WFO) prepares and issues forecasts and warnings for 26 counties in Utah and extreme southwest Wyoming

24/7 Operation

Past Weather Events

Winter Storms

Floods/Flash Floods

Severe Thunderstorms/Tornadoes

Wildland Fires

Debris Flows

Windstorms

Lightning

Severe Thunderstorms/Tornadoes

West Jordan Microburst August 5, 2013

37 large transmission poles and 4 smaller distribution poles3,000 customers lost power

State Route 111 closed $300,000 dollars damage

Photo courtesy KSL

Severe Thunderstorms/Tornadoes

Riverdale/Washington Terrace/South Ogden TornadoSeptember 22, 2016

Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale - EF1 Track length – nearly 3 miles

Max width - approximately 50 yards5 injuries

Total damage - $2,000,000

Severe Thunderstorms/Tornadoes

Panguitch TornadoSeptember 22, 2016

Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale – EF1Track length - three-quarters of a mile

Max width - 25 yardsTotal damage - $300,000

Floods/Flash Floods

Photo Courtesy KSL

Photo courtesy David Rankin

Nine Mile Canyon Road

• 2018 Statistics

– 79 fatalities in the United States

– 0 in Utah

• Utah statistics since 1950

– 53 fatalities

Floods/Flash Floods

Hildale Flash Flood September 14, 2015

13 fatalities3 injuries

Total damage - $750,000

Photo courtesy Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Floods/Flash Floods

Zion National Park – Keyhole Canyon Flash Flood September 14, 2015

7 fatalities

Photo courtesy Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Lightning• 2018 statistics

– 20 fatalities in the United States

– 0 fatalities in Utah

• Utah statistics since 1950

– 67 fatalities

July 5, 2011 - Utah County

Wildland Fires

Brianhead Fire June 17-July 28, 2017

71,673 acres13 homes destroyed

Estimated cost - $36.6 million

Wildland Fires

Dollar Ridge Fire July 1, 2018-August 31, 2018

68,869 acres74 homes destroyed

$25 million in property damage$18 million in suppression costs

1,100 people evacuated

Wildland Fires

Bald Mountain Fire/Pole Creek Fire August 24, 2018-October 2, 2018/September 6, 2018-October 7, 2018

18,620 acres/102,190 acres$23.8 million in suppression costs

6,000 people evacuated

Photo courtesy Amber Bird

Debris Flows

Debris flow from Dollar Ridge Fire Burn ScarDuchesne County

July 22, 2018Camelot Resort - 30 adults/13 children rescued

Timber Canyon - Dozen people rescued$150,000 in damage

Photo courtesy Sheriff David Boren, Duchesne County

Photo courtesy Duchesne County Sheriff’s Office

Windstorms

Photo courtesy Deseret NewsFarmington

Photo courtesy Deseret NewsCenterville

Wasatch Front Downslope Windstorm December 1, 2011

102 mph wind gust recorded in Centerville

$4 million damage to public infrastructure

$78 million damage to insured property

50,000 homes and businesses without power

Interstate closures

School closures

Winter Storms

Photo courtesy Raval Call Deseret News

Salt Lake City International Airport

Photo courtesy Kristin Murphy Deseret NewsI-80 - Salt Lake City

Wasatch Front Ice Storm January 24, 2013

.09 inches of freezing rain 557 reported accidents

300 injuriesSalt Lake City International Airport

closed operations

Winter StormsPhoto courtesy Kevin Barjenbruch

Draper

NWS Operations Before Weather Spotters

SKYWARN (Severe Weather) Spotters

• Help overcome Doppler Radar limitations– Extreme terrain leads to less than optimal radar coverage– Radar doesn’t ‘see’ below cloud base– Radar is good at indicating circulations (mesocyclones), but most

circulations are not associated with a tornado

• Provide ground truth, which can help motivate people downstream to take action to protect lives and property– Ground truth reports included in warnings heighten public awareness,

add credibility to warnings, and allow forecasters to have confidence in warning decisions

• Ground truth can be correlated with radar signatures prior to,during, and after severe weather to aid in warning decisions– We archive severe weather events for research and verification and use

a Weather Event Simulator for training with past weather events

Why are you critical to NWS operations?

Reporting…What We Want to Hear About

• Tornadoes, Funnel Clouds, and Wall Clouds

• Flooding/flash flooding and/or rapidly rising water

• Strong and/or damaging winds

• Hail

• Wildland fires

• Snowfall, snow depth, and freezing rain

• Marine-related weather events

Don’t assume we already know it’s happening!

Continue to monitor and report!

When You Report4 Ws – who, what, when, and where

• Identify yourself as a trained spotter (who)

• Describe severe weather feature (what)

• Provide exact time feature was spotted (when)

– This may or may not be the current time of your call

• Be as specific as possible with location (where)

– Reference distance and direction from nearest city

– Use interstate, state, or county road information

– Reference marina, or other navigational information

Continue to monitor and report!

Reporting Options

Severe Weather Spotter Line:800-882-1432 x1

Dust storm near Milford, UT

Storm Reportshttps://inws.ncep.noaa.gov/report

E-mailutah.spotter@noaa.gov

Twitter@NWSSaltLakeCity

https://twitter.com/NWSSaltLakeCity

FacebookUS National Weather Service Salt Lake City Utah

https://www.facebook.com/NWSSaltLakeCity

CoCoRaHSCommunity Collaborative Rain, Hail and

Snow Network• Report rain, hail, and snow

• Visit CoCoRaHS home page at http://www.cocorahs.org

– Registration

– View observations

ContactMike Seaman

Senior Forecaster mike.seaman@noaa.gov

Meteorological Phenomena Identification Near the Ground (mPING)

• NOAA/National Severe Storms Laboratory, University of Oklahoma, and the Cooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorological Studies

• Submit weather observations and view reports

• Report through mPING app, available on iTunes and Google Play

• mPING page at http://mping.nssl.noaa.gov

Anticipating Severe WeatherSituational Awareness # 1 - Be aware of your environment!

Plymouth, UT - July 27, 2007

7 Days

Now

Tim

e U

nti

l Eve

nt

Certainty of Event

Possible Conditions Favorable Imminent

OUTLOOKS

(Ready)

WATCHES

(Set)

WARNINGS or

ADVISORIES

(Go!!!)

3–tiered approach

Ready…Set…Go!!!

Severe Weather Terms What to watch for

• Watch - Issued when conditions are favorable for a particular severe weather hazard to develop during the next several hours. Plan, prepare, and be aware.`

• Warning - Issued when a particular severe weather hazard is either imminent or occurring, and poses a significant risk to life and/or property. Immediate action is necessary to protect life and/or property.

• Advisory – A low-impact event is imminent or occurring, which may result in inconvenience or nuisance weather conditions - primarily impacting travel. Reasonable precautions will prevent injury or property damage.

Anticipating Severe WeatherWhat to look and listen for…be Informed

• Utilize WFO Salt Lake City web services http://weather.gov/saltlakecity– Text and graphical services

• Dynamically generated forecasts • Hazardous Weather Outlook• Watches, warnings, and advisories

– YouTube briefings– Weather Story– Social media– Radar imagery

• NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards• Local media sources

Anticipating Severe WeatherWhat to look and listen for…be Informed

• Utilize Storm Prediction Center serviceshttp://www.spc.noaa.gov

What Makes a Thunderstorm Severe?

• Tornado• Winds at least 58 mph

or reports of wind damage

• Hail at least 1 inch in diameter

Coalville, UT - September 5, 2007

Roosevelt , UT- July 19 2008

Thunderstorm Life Cycle

• Towering, billowy bright white clouds

• Dominated by updraft –rising air

• Lasts 10-15 minutes

• Little rain, but lightning possible

Towering Cumulus - Developing

Thunderstorm Life Cycle

• The weather stage

• Hail, heavy rain, lightning, strong

winds, tornadoes

• Anvil at storm top

• Rising air/falling rain

(updraft/downdraft)

• Typically lasts 10-20 minutes

Mature Stage

Thunderstorm Life Cycle

• Tall, billowy updraft shrinking

• Mostly descending air

• Rainfall intensity decreases

• Strong wind and hail still possible from some storms

• Lightning can still be quite frequent

• Lifespan is 45-50 minutes

Dissipating Stage

Observing Upper Level Storm Clues

• Overshooting Top– Dome-like bubble of cloud extending above anvil and

persisting for >10 minutes

– Indicates strong updraft

• Anvil characteristics– Thick, cumuliform anvil with sharp, well-defined edges

– ‘Bubbling’ look

Viewed 30-40 miles from storm

Intensity clues – Overshooting Top

Thick anvil

Overshooting top

Intensity Clues - Anvil

Well defined anvil

Wispy anvil

Intensity clues - Updraft

Strong updraftHard cauliflower

appearance

Vertically upright

Weak updraftSoft, mushy appearance

Vertically tilted

Sunlight shining through

Viewed 10-20 miles from the storm

Observing Low Level Storm Clues

• Wind clues– Shelf Cloud/Roll Cloud– Downburst

• Hail clues– White hail shaft– Greenish tint to sky

• Tornadoes, Funnel Clouds, and Wall Clouds– Rain-Free Base (Low, flat cloud base with little visible

precipitation falling and updraft towers above)– Wall Cloud (Isolated lowering of rain-free base, rotating, and

usually near the north side of the updraft)

Viewed within 10 miles of storm

Ogden, UT - August, 2008

Fundamental Definitions – Shelf Cloud

• Shelf Cloud – Low level, horizontal, wedge shaped cloud, occurring on leading edge of a thunderstorm (Wind, rain, and hail may follow, but may not be severe)

Salt Lake County - September 4, 2007

Fundamental Definitions - Microburst

• Microburst – An intense downdraft from a thunderstorm with an outrush of damaging wind

• Winds can exceed 100 mph

August 23, 2003 Lawrence, KS

Reporting Winds/Wind Damage

Measure wind speeds when possible!

• Use Beaufort Scale to estimate wind speeds– ~50 MPH - Slight structural

damage and large branches may break

– ~60 MPH - Moderate structural and tree damage

– ~ 70 MPH - Heavy to severe structural and tree damage

• Report immediately:– Wind damage– 50+ mph winds

Salt Lake County - September 4, 2007

Hail Clues

Southern Utah - October 2006• Look for

– White hail shafts/streamers

– Greenish tint to sky

• Report any size hail

Measure the Hail

United States Record Hail (circumference) Aurora, NE - June 22, 2003

Measure the HailUnited States Record Hail (weight and diameter)

Vivian SD - July 23, 2010

Do Not Report “Marble Size Hail”

Reference hail size in inches or relate it to thesize of a coin.

Quarter(1 inch)

Nickel Penny(3/4

inch)

Dime (11/16inch)

Hail Boys

A Closer LookSupercells, Tornadoes, Funnel Clouds,

and Wall Clouds

Dunlap, IN - April 11, 1965

Yes…Tornadoes Do Happen in Utah!

Salt Lake City August 11, 1999

Manti September 8, 2002

Fundamental Definitions – Supercell Thunderstorm

• Supercell – A thunderstorm with a persistent rotating updraft

• Almost always severe with large hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes

Photo courtesy Greg Lunden

Supercell Depiction

Supercell Depiction – Second Look

Fundamental Definitions - Mesocyclone

• Mesocyclone – A storm-scale region of rotation within the updraft region of a supercell thunderstorm

Fundamental Definitions – Wall Cloud• Wall Cloud - An isolated lowering

under a rain-free cumulonimbus cloud base, resembles a pedestal.

• Persistent (5-10 minutes) and often rotating

• Can precede funnel cloud and tornado formation

Near Ogden, UT - August 2008

Shelf Clouds vs. Wall Clouds

• Suggest downdraft/outflow

• Move away from precipitation areas

• Horizontally orientated and can extend for miles, may ‘roll’ like a rolling pin

• Suggest updraft/inflow

• Maintain position with respect to precipitation

• Isolated, vertically orientated, and rotating, like a spinning skater

Shelf Clouds Wall Clouds

Slopes down and moves away from the rain

The Shelf Cloud is the leading edge of the wind shift

Rain area

Storm movement

Shelf Cloud

Shelf cloud movement

Slopes up and holds position with respect to storm

Storm movement

Wall Cloud

Rain area

The wall cloud does not move away from the rain

Fundamental Definitions – Funnel Cloud

• Funnel Cloud - A violently rotating column of air, extending downward from the base of a thunderstorm that does not reach the ground

• No circulation is seen on the surface

Panguitch, UT - August 26, 2016

Photo courtesy Shilo Hatch

Platte/Colfax Counties Nebraska

Fundamental Definitions - TornadoTornado - A violently rotating column of air extending from the base of a severe thunderstorm to the ground

Funnel Cloud and Initial Tornado Development Stage

Duchesne, UT - June, 2005

Tornado – Mature Stage

Look-alikesDon’t Be Fooled!

• Scud Clouds - Ragged edge clouds that do not rotate and are located below the main cloud base…may move up and into cloud base under an updraft

• Virga - Rain falling from clouds, but evaporating before reaching the ground…NO rotation, but can imply microburst winds

Night Severe Weather SpottingWhat to look and listen for

• Utilize illumination provided by lightning

• If experiencing large hail, you are near the portion of a storm where a tornado may form

• Search horizon for bright flashes of light from power lines and transformers being hit by a tornado

• Listen for a loud roaringsound (not present with alltornadoes and may befrom straight line winds)

Herriman, UT - 2007

Lightning Safety• Monitor NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards, your

favorite news source, and/or NWS web sites for vital weather information

• Keep and eye on the sky and listen for the sound of thunder

• If you can't get to a safe shelter, stay away from trees and other tall objects

• Avoid leaning against vehicles

• Get out of or off the water

If you can hear thunder, go to a safe shelter immediately!

Radar Interpretation 101Doppler radar data available from NWS web pages

Reflectivity - Hot colors = more intense echoes

Velocity - Warm colors indicate winds directed

away from radar and cool colors winds

directed toward radar

Greensburg, KS EF-5 May 4, 2007

Radar Interpretation 101Doppler in 3-D

Remember…We Want To Hear From You When the

Following Is Observed…

• Tornado

• Funnel Clouds and Wall Clouds– Rotating and persistent

• Strong or damaging winds

• Hail (any size)

Don’t assume that we already know it’s happening!

Switching Gears…

Flooding/Flash Flooding

Lower Enterprise Dam January 13, 2005

Flooding/Flash FloodingRespect the water…and think!

Near El Paso, Texas- June 20, 1999

Flooding/Flash Flooding TermsWhat to watch for

• Hazardous Weather Outlooks/Special Weather Statements

• Flash Flood Potential Rating

• Watches

• Warnings

• Advisories

Washington County – August 1, 2007

Flooding/Flash Flooding Reporting

Report the following immediately:• Flooding or rapidly rising water

• Unusually high or flowing faster than normal

• Water approaching bankfull stage or nearing roads/structures

• Inch or more of rainfall observed in a short duration (less in steep/rocky terrain or in burn areas)

• Any flooding observed

• Debris flows or rock slides

Flooding/Flash Flooding Reporting

Additional guidance: • Watch for extended periods of heavy rainfall from slow

moving thunderstorms

• Look for thunderstorms ‘training’ over the same locations

• Report water as it begins to rise and before it starts to impact people’s lives

• Don’t assume that we already know it’s happening!

Marine WeatherPhoto courtesy David Rankin

Navajo Generating Station

Marine Weather TermsWhat to watch for

• Hazardous Weather Outlooks/Special Weather Statements

• Watches

• Warnings

• Advisories

Wahweap Bay and Warm Creek Bay

Photo courtesy David Rankin

Marine Weather ReportingReport the following: • Winds and waves impacting craft • Waterspouts• Dense fog

Lost Eden Canyon - Lake Powell

Iceberg Canyon - Lake Powell

Photo courtesy Steve Luckesen

Photo courtesy Steve Luckesen

Fire Weather

Salt Creek Fire – July 2007

Fire Weather TermsWhat to watch for

• Hazardous Weather Outlooks

• Watches

• Warnings

Salt Creek Fire – July 2007

Wildfire Reporting

Report the following:• New wildfire starts, especially if

threatening life and property

• Smoke reducing visibility to less than 2 miles

• Weather pattern information (afternoon wind shifts) in wildfire locations (provides insight to forecasters)

Corner Canyon Fire August 25, 2008

Photo courtesy KSL

Winter Weather

Elk Point Avalanche

Winter Weather TermsWhat to watch for

• Hazardous Weather Outlooks/Special Weather Statements

• Watches

• Warnings

• Advisories

Cedar City Doppler Radar Blowhard Mountain

Winter Weather ReportingReport the following: • Snowfall accumulations

–How much total snow fell (period of time)–When snow began/ended–When snow total reached warning level

• Snow depth• Freezing rain accumulation• Precipitation type changes

Draper - February 2008

Safety - ACES

• Awareness

• Communication

• Escape Routes

• Safe Zones

El Reno: Lessons From the Most Dangerous Tornado in Storm Observing History

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBjr-nvA2Jg

Share Your Information!

Severe Weather Spotter Line: 800-882-1432 x1

Storm Reportshttps://inws.ncep.noaa.gov/report

Spotter Reports E-mail: utah.spotter@noaa.gov

Twitter@NWSSaltLakeCity

https://twitter.com/NWSSaltLakeCity

FacebookUS National Weather Service Salt Lake City Utah

https://www.facebook.com/NWSSaltLakeCity

Call for Video and Photos

If you are in a SAFElocation and have the chance to shoot video/pictures, please share it with us for inclusion in future presentations

Photo Courtesy Chris Maier

Additional Training• SKYWARN® Spotter Training

– Role of the Skywarn Spotter

– Skywarn Spotter Convective Basics

• Available at https://www.meted.ucar.edu/training_course.php?id=23

• The COMET® Program - MetEd

Contact WFO SLC

Kevin Barjenbruch

Warning Coordination Meteorologist

kevin.barjenbruch@noaa.gov

National Weather Service Salt Lake City2242 West North TempleSalt Lake City, UT 84116

https://www.weather.gov/saltlakecity

UTAH AND SOUTHWEST WYOMING WEATHER SPOTTER HOME PAGEhttps://www.weather.gov/slc/spotter

Salt Creek Fire - July 2007